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Scholarship Recipients Give Thanks at Donor Appreciation Luncheon

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University of Mary Washington junior Norah Walsh ’24 remembers taking a strenuous uphill hike with classmates on the Spanish island of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe on a hot day last year. Their sweaty bus ride back was a bonding experience, she said, but it remains one of her most memorable moments since coming to Mary Washington.

“I would not have been able to go to Spain without the Abbott International Study Abroad Scholarship,” said Norah, a Spanish and philosophy major who earned four scholarships at UMW. “So, thank you very much, Marty Abbott.”

Junior Norah Walsh speaks at the 2023 Donor Appreciation Luncheon on March 25. The annual event, held in person for the first time in four years, celebrates donors who have established scholarships to support students. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.
Marty Abbott ’72, who established the Abbott International Study Abroad Scholarship, listens as Norah Walsh, her recipient, speaks about how her scholarships enabled her to study abroad in Spain. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.

Norah expressed those words of gratitude at the 2023 Donor Appreciation Luncheon and Student Showcase on Saturday, March 25, at the Cedric Rucker University Center. Held in person for the first time in four years, the annual event honors supporters who have established private scholarships for students, as well as members of UMW’s Washington and Heritage societies, who have given or pledged significant funds to the University.

Guests mixed and mingled with scholarship recipients who displayed their academic pursuits and projects, then dined in the Chandler Ballroom and later listened as student speakers and UMW President Troy Paino thanked them for their generous gifts to Mary Washington.

Seniors Oscar León and Mina Sollars chat about costumes from UMW Theatre productions with Mark Ingrao ’81 and Lisa Taylor ’85 during the Student Showcase. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.
Deborah and James Llewellyn ’83 with the Llewellyn Scholarship in Psychology recipient, sophomore Robert Oehler. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.
Sophomore Docia Atanda, the recipient of the Bernard L. Mahoney Jr. Student Research Fellowship in Science chats with the late professor’s wife, Kathleen Mahoney. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.
From left: Carolyn Gore-Ashe, Betty Fischer Gore ’49 and sophomore Saud Abdul Aziz, who received the Martha Fischer Leighton ’47 Memorial Scholarship and the Linda Loy Endowed Emergency Fund. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.
Ed Morawetz Jr. chats with Noel Shenk ’24, the recipient of the Christopher Edward Morawetz Scholarship, during the Donor Appreciation Luncheon. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.

“You are making a dramatic difference in the lives of students so they can access a public liberal arts and sciences education,” said President Paino, announcing that the University awarded $2.2 million through 817 privately funded scholarships in the last fiscal year.

He also highlighted the “transformational” gift from the estate of Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59, who passed away last July. The $30 million gift will create four new full-ride Alvey Scholarships and exponentially grow UMW’s undergraduate scientific research program, he said. “We are so grateful to Irene and to all of you who invest in our students.”

Because of her own experience studying in Madrid as a Mary Washington student, Marty Abbott ’72 embarked on a career in foreign language education. Creating a scholarship to help UMW students experience travel overseas, she said, was the natural next step.

“Norah truly embodies the reason why I created this scholarship,” said Marty, who swapped stories about Spain with Norah at the luncheon. “I always appreciate hearing from students how scholarships have impacted them professionally and personally.”

Sophomore Davy Washington explains how the Susan Leavitt ’83 Scholarship helped them pay tuition after their mother passed away. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.
President Troy Paino provided a university update, announcing that UMW awarded $2.2 million through 817 privately funded scholarships during the last fiscal year. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.
Sophomore Kaylah Lightfoot, recipient of the Balfour Scholarship for Leadership, served as emcee of the 2023 Donor Appreciation Luncheon. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.

Serving as emcee, sophomore Kaylah Lightfoot ’25 shared how receiving the Balfour Scholarship for Leadership has helped her hone those skills and serve in campus leadership roles, including as the newly elected vice president of UMW’s Student Government Association.

Sophomore Davy Washington ’25, a creative writing major, said they needed the Susan Leavitt ’83 Scholarship, designed for students who experience a personal hardship, in order to help cover the cost of tuition.

“After my mom died unexpectedly, it gave me the chance to focus on my studies and live the ideal college student experience,” said Davy, who read a poem about their mother to the audience. “Being a student in need and knowing that there are donors who support students like me has been one of the most heartwarming experiences I’ve had in college.”

To learn more about establishing scholarships, please contact the Office of University Advancement at (540) 654-1024 or advance@umw.edu. View photos and videos from the 2023 Donor Appreciation Luncheon and Student Showcase.

Norah Walsh is the recipient of the Amanda Elizabeth Dresser ’95 Scholarship, the Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship, the Abbott International Study Abroad Scholarship, and the Fita Rivas Scholarship in Spanish.

Davy Washington is the recipient of the Susan Leavitt ’83 Scholarship.

Kaylah Lightfoot is the recipient of the Balfour Scholarship for Leadership.

– Article written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04

UMW Receives Transformational $36 Million Gift for Undergraduate Research and Scholarships

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*Numbers have been adjusted to reflect the full amount of the gift, which totaled $36 million 

The University of Mary Washington has received a $36 million gift – the largest in the institution’s 115-year history – from the estate of Irene Piscopo Rodgers. A 1959 alumna and lifetime supporter of her alma mater, Irene passed away on July 18, 2022, in Huntington, New York.

Irene Piscopo Rodgers poses in 2017 with Mary Washington students Kelly McDaniel, Mary Hopkin, and Emily Ferguson. The young women represent just a few of the many students who have benefitted through the years from Rodgers’ generosity to her alma mater. Her final gift of $30 million – the largest ever received by the University – will be ‘transformational’ to UMW’s undergraduate research program, providing students with invaluable hands-on learning opportunities for decades to come.
Irene Piscopo Rodgers poses in 2017 with Mary Washington students Kelly McDaniel, Mary Hopkin, and Emily Ferguson. The young women represent just a few of the many students who have benefitted through the years from Rodgers’ generosity to her alma mater. Her final gift of $30 million – the largest ever received by the University – will be ‘transformational’ to UMW’s undergraduate research program, providing students with invaluable hands-on learning opportunities for decades to come.

Irene made a name for herself in the field of electron microscopy and helped pave the way for UMW graduates, especially women, to excel in STEM subjects of their own choosing. Mary Washington, as she often said, had “opened worlds” for her. Now, this generous gift – along with others that she made through the years – will carry on her legacy by helping the University prepare young scholars for successful careers in science, technology, engineering, and math for decades to come.

“Students who benefitted from Irene’s generosity welcomed her into their lives, so she was able to observe firsthand the transformative power of her gifts,” said UMW President Troy Paino. “This unprecedented donation guarantees that exceptional students will continue to have access to a UMW education that delivers the kind of high-impact learning experiences that Irene valued so much.”

Irene’s gift will grow UMW’s undergraduate research program, President Paino said. Students in the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, computer science, and math will have even more opportunities to explore their research interests throughout the academic year and at the University’s Summer Science Institute, working alongside faculty mentors. Mary Washington also offers undergraduate, graduate, and accelerated pathways for students aspiring to study law, medicine, engineering, conservation biology, pharmacy, accounting, and business analytics through agreements with partner institutions.

The gift also supports the creation of four new Alvey Scholarships, providing full tuition, fees, and room and board for out-of-state undergraduate students for up to four years, in addition to the eight Alvey Scholarships that Irene already created.

To date, 93 students have earned awards through Rodgers’ generosity, including 16 Alvey Scholarship recipients, funded by Rodgers. Students have also received research fellowships, scientific presentation grants for conference travel, and other scholarships established by Rodgers.

UMW student Boramy Meng works with the transmission electron microscope Irene Piscopo Rodgers gifted to Mary Washington in 2004. Having made a name for herself in the field of electron microscopy, Irene trained UMW faculty and students to use the instrument. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.
Student Kristine Dadufelza works in UMW’s Jepson Science Center with the electron microscope gifted to the University by Irene Piscopo Rodgers. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.
Professor of Chemistry and chair of the Department of Chemistry and Physics Janet Asper (right) works with senior chemistry major Dorothy Haas in Experimental Methods, a course that has students separating and identifying the molecules within a mixture. Through the years, Irene’s generous gifts to her alma mater have bolstered students’ pursuit of science. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.
UMW’s recently renovated Jepson Science Center connects classrooms to labs and offers sophisticated instruments to enhance undergraduate research, including an electron microscope gifted to the University by Irene Piscopo Rodgers ’59.

The funding will be offered to the most promising students, said UMW Provost Tim O’Donnell, and ensure that Mary Washington graduates will continue to be highly prized by employers and graduate schools.

“This gift will be transformational for UMW, establishing us as one of the premier institutions in Virginia, indeed in the country, for undergraduate STEM research,” Provost O’Donnell said. “The mentored experiences the University will be able to offer will be unparalleled. I don’t know of another institution, regardless of size or mission, with such a focused investment.”

Irene earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from what was then known as Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia, followed by a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Michigan. She worked for the American Cyanamid Company and Philips Electronic Instruments, where she met her husband, James “Don” Rodgers, who hired her at a time when there were few women scientists in her field.

Irene Piscopo Rodgers is seen here in the 1959 ‘Battlefield’ yearbook, during her senior year at Mary Washington. She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the school, then known as Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia.
Irene Piscopo Rodgers (back row, second from left) with her 1959 classmates at her 60th reunion in 2019.
After her graduation from Mary Washington, Rodgers (shown here in a picture from 2013) went on to earn a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Michigan. She worked for the American Cyanamid Company and Philips Electronic Instruments, making a name for herself in the field of electron microscopy.

Attending Mary Washington had been a game-changer for Irene, whose appreciation has been acknowledged through her philanthropy and donations to her alma mater for more than 40 years, beginning with a $50 gift in 1980.

In 2004, she donated a transmission electron microscope to Mary Washington and trained students and faculty to use it. A decade later, UMW presented Irene with an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters for her service and contributions to the institution. She also named a microscopy lab and several Alvey Scholarships after her late parents, Justin and Helen Piscopo. This gift, in combination with gifts made during her lifetime, brings her total giving to Mary Washington to nearly $39 million.

“The University is so grateful to have been the beneficiary of Irene’s generosity during her lifetime and now as a lasting part of her legacy. This gift was made possible through relationships built over decades by numerous members of the Mary Washington community,” said UMW Vice President for Advancement Katie Turcotte. “Everyone who knew Irene knows how much she loved Mary Washington and helping our students pursue opportunities to conduct research.”

Irene poses in 2018 with a group of Mary Washington scholarship recipients who benefitted from her generosity. To date, 85 students have earned awards thanks to funding she provided.
“This gift was made possible through relationships built over decades by numerous members of the Mary Washington community,” said UMW Vice President for Advancement Katie Turcotte. Here, Irene poses for a picture with late Associate Vice President for Advancement Ken Steen at the University of Mary Washington’s Jepson Alumni Executive Center. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.

Irene often kept in close touch with her previous recipients, following their successes through graduate school and beyond.

She was a “fantastic lady,” said sophomore Ally Fletcher ’25, an Alvey Scholarship recipient majoring in the biomedical sciences. “I’m so grateful that she gave me this opportunity.”

Hannah Checkeye ’21, who also earned an Alvey Scholarship and is now a graduate student at The George Washington University School of Medicine, said her donor “paved the way” for her and other women in the sciences.

“Irene made it possible for me to go to Mary Washington and complete my pre-medical education,” Checkeye said. “She changed the lives of so many students.”

Learn more about the UMW Admissions process and the Full-Ride Scholarships that are available to UMW students.

For information on creating a named Washington Scholarship or Alvey Scholarship, please contact the Office of University Advancement at advance@umw.edu or 540-654-1024.

– Article by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04

Celebration of Giving Spotlights the Power of Philanthropy

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Lily Silva ’22 recently helped a student one-on-one with a lesson on Ancient Greece and Sparta. The young teacher, who earned a bachelor’s from the University of Mary Washington, said she felt gratified when the teen began to draw connections between battles for territory fought by early civilizations and his own experiences in the inner city.

“My students are funny, intelligent, and have bright futures ahead of them, but they don’t have many people that believe in them,” said Lily, who is now pursuing a master’s degree in secondary social studies through UMW’s College of Education while teaching in Richmond City Public Schools. “I want to be that for them. And because of the Ukrop Scholars Program, I can.”

At the 2022 Celebration of Giving, graduate student Lily Silva shared how her Ukrop scholarship gave her the chance to pursue a master’s degree in education while teaching in Richmond City Public Schools. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.
UMW Symfonics sang carols in the Jepson Alumni Executive Center courtyard as guests arrived to the 2022 Celebration of Giving. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.
Celebration of Giving guests enjoyed festive cocktails and a served dinner, followed by cocoa, coffee, and desserts after the program. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.

Lily was among the Mary Washington students who spoke at the University’s 2022 Celebration of Giving, held for the first time in three years, on Dec. 8. Hosted by President Troy Paino and wife Kelly, guests reveled at festive cocktails and enjoyed a served dinner and caroling by the UMW Symfonics. But the real showstopper came when students shared personal stories illustrating the impact of private support on their Mary Washington experience.

“You make a profound difference in the lives of our students, faculty, and staff through your support and collective efforts,” Vice President for Advancement Katie Turcotte told the 100-plus donors in attendance. Last year Mary Washington awarded a total of $2.2 million in scholarships to students, she said, with $1.6 million of that coming from endowments. “So, on behalf of the University, thank you. Were it not for you, we wouldn’t be celebrating together tonight.”

President Paino, who introduced each of the student speakers, said that through their generosity to UMW, donors teach students about the value of philanthropy and service.

“At Mary Washington, it’s in our DNA to produce students who care deeply about making the world a better place,” he said. “They use their talents, developing them as they go, and give to others, much like all of you.”

“You embody the spirit of Mary Washington,” President Troy Paino said of the 100-plus donors who attended the 2022 Celebration of Giving. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.
From left: John Anstey ’93, Vice President for Advancement Katie Turcotte, College of Arts and Sciences Dean Keith Mellinger, and Curry Roberts at the 2022 Celebration of Giving. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.
Merrilyn Sawyer Dodson ’68 and son Chris attend the 2022 Celebration of Giving. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.
From left: Donna Sheehan Gladis ’68 and Steve Gladis, Ambassador Frances Cook ’67, and Marty Abbott ’72 at the 2022 Celebration of Giving. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.
Sarah Gildersleeve Strassheim ’01 and Rob Strassheim ’96 at the 2022 Celebration of Giving. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.

Senior theatre major Oscar León ’23 said receiving the June Davis McCormack ’49 Scholarship and other awards allowed him to stay in college an extra year so he could have more chances to perform onstage.

“These scholarships have afforded me opportunities and helped me follow my dreams,” said Oscar, who recently starred in UMW Theatre’s production of The Rocky Horror Show and interned at Wolf Trap last summer. Minoring in arts administration and musical theatre, he aspires to work at an arts organization in the greater D.C. area.

Hollis Cobb ’23, a senior English major, spoke about how he is putting philanthropy into practice. Several years ago, he turned a 1989 ambulance into Bookmobile Fredericksburg. UMW’s Center for Community Engagement, Community Outreach and Resources (COAR), and Center for Economic Development helped him launch the nonprofit library-on-wheels, which distributes free books at schools, community events, farmers’ markets, and on campus.

“What I created might have been done on my own,” said Hollis, who hopes to work in the nonprofit sector while continuing to run the Bookmobile. “But I was equipped and supported every step of the way by the UMW community.”

Senior Oscar León explains how the June Davis McCormack ’49 Scholarship gave him the opportunity to stay at Mary Washington an extra year so he could perform in UMW Theatre productions. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.
Senior Jane Kisselev said her Washington Scholarship freed her up so she could pursue activities and study abroad in Paris. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.
Senior Hollis Cobb explained how the UMW community supported his nonprofit library-on-wheels, Bookmobile Fredericksburg. Photo by Tom Rothenberg.

That sentiment was echoed by Jane Kisselev, a senior international business major, who explained how her Washington Scholarship – which provides full tuition, room, and board – enabled her to study the fashion business in Paris. She’ll continue that research for her senior capstone on the secondhand clothing market before joining Fannie Mae’s climate impact team after graduation.

Summing up her gratitude, Jane said: “None of these opportunities would have been possible without the UMW community and donors like you.”

Learn more about establishing scholarships and how private support makes a difference in the lives of UMW students who receive scholarships, research fellowships, and internship grants.

View photos from the 2022 Celebration of Giving.

– Article written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04 

Weatherly Wing Dedication Hits High Note for Devoted Alums

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Marceline “Marcy” Weatherly Morris ’50 remembers how her parents saved and sacrificed, taking out loans so she could pursue a music degree at Mary Washington.

“They just knew it was important for their only child to have an education,” said Marcy, who also fell in love with a young sailor in college, Elmer Morris Jr. ’50, who came to his mother’s alma mater on the GI Bill. At her parents’ request, Marcy waited until after graduation to marry her beloved “Juney,” so that her maiden name, Weatherly, would be on her diploma.

Elmer “Juney” Morris Jr. ’50 and Marceline “Marcy” Weatherly Morris ’50 fell in love while they were students at Mary Washington. Lifelong supporters of their alma mater, the couple gave a generous gift to name the Weatherly Wing in Seacobeck Hall after Marcy’s late parents, William Rupert and Lavon Gardner Weatherly. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.
Marcy and Juney (right) with Marcy’s parents, William Rupert and Lavon Gardner Weatherly, in the 1950s. Photo courtesy of Marcy Weatherly Morris.

That surname will now live on at the University of Mary Washington, with a significant gift from the Morrises to name the Weatherly Wing in the newly renovated Seacobeck Hall for Marcy’s late parents, William Rupert and Lavon Gardner Weatherly. The alums returned to their alma mater on Nov. 17 to dedicate the 150-seat multipurpose auditorium, which is being used for lectures, recitals, and other special events. They, along with family and friends, faculty, staff, administrators, and members of the Board of Visitors (BOV) and Foundation Board, listened as a series of speakers honored their contributions to the University.

“One of the greatest joys I’ve had as president here is getting to know dedicated alums such as you,” said President Troy Paino, praising the couple for their lifelong commitment and service to Mary Washington, which has educated five generations of the Morris family. “You embody so much of what we try to impart onto our students.”

The president also thanked them for their continued support of UMW, including establishing the Marceline Weatherly Morris Musical Theatre Scholarship and funding the renovation of the Morris Stage at Heslep Amphitheatre, where Marcy was crowned May Queen her senior year. “Your generous gifts help our students learn, grow, and pursue their interests and passions, just as the two of you did while you were here at Mary Washington.”

The Morrises were visibly moved throughout the dedication ceremony. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.
Junior Sofia Taylor thanked the Morrises for the Weatherly Wing on behalf of the student body. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.
The Morrises and their family and friends, members of the Board of Visitors and Foundation Board, UMW faculty and staff, and others listen as President Paino shared the Morrises’ story. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.

BOV Rector Devon Williams Cushman ’93 read the BOV’s resolution and spoke about her shared connection to Marcy and Juney as Mary Washington alums, calling them an “inspiration” for the UMW community.

Pete Kelly, dean of the College of Education, now housed in Seacobeck Hall, told the couple that students and faculty are already learning and performing in the Weatherly Wing. “I know that generations to come will enjoy it.”

Expressing her gratitude on behalf of the student body, junior Sofia Taylor ’24 sang the opening of an aria from The Tales of Hoffmann, which she performed in the space earlier this year. Aquila Venti, a student chamber music trio, also played, showcasing the room’s incredible acoustics.

“The Weatherly Wing is the perfect place for music,” said Sofia, a full-ride Alvey Scholarship recipient who is majoring in psychology and minoring in music and neuroscience. “I’m sure if this space was a part of the Mary Washington campus in 1950, Mrs. Morris would have enjoyed performing here as a student.”

Marcy Morris spoke of how her parents took out loans to pay her tuition to Mary Washington. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.
Board of Visitors Rector Devon Williams Cushman ’93, President Troy Paino, and College of Education Dean Pete Kelly all spoke at the dedication, offering their congratulations and thanks to the Morrises. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.
The Morrises, who come from a five-generation legacy family, attended the dedication with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, many of whom attended Mary Washington. Photo by Karen Pearlman Photography.

At last, Marcy took the mic, sharing her appreciation to the University for giving her and Juney the opportunity to pay tribute to her parents and the Weatherly name.

“We love Mary Washington, we love our family, and we love each other, and that’s pretty good after 72 years of marriage,” she said. “Thank you for being here and for letting us be a part of this special place.”

For information on naming gifts at the University of Mary Washington, please contact the Office of University Advancement at advance@umw.edu or 540-654-1024.

– Article written by Assistant Director of Advancement Communications Jill Graziano Laiacona ’04